Manual Tax Workflow
- Client provides unorganized tax documents
- Organize tax documents
- Photocopy tax documents
- Manually enter data
- Prepare taxes
- Print return
- Review return**
- Send to client
- File paper return in the file cabinet
Automated Tax Workflow
- Client provides unorganized tax documents
- Documents are scanned, turned into PDFs and automatically organized. If integrated with the tax software, data is extracted and imported into the tax program.
- Prepare return
- Review return on screen*
- Electronically send return to client
- PDF copy of return and related documents are electronically stored in document management system
* By this point all documents have been routed in the firm electronically. Any changes that needed to be made or questions to be answered are noted electronically.
** By this point preparers have probably spent a good deal of time walking around the office to deliver documents, tracking down information, etc. They may have had to make additional changes to the prepared return and re-reviewed it. Questions that needed to be answered or notes to be made are perhaps jotted down on Post-It notes.
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